Band with mostly beginners

[LotusCarsLtd52]

My two friends and I have decided that we want to start a band. Now maybe it's just me being skeptical/pessimistic but I think we need to be careful about doing so because I have some concerns.

Here's the specs:

-we want to play as a trio
-drummer has been playing for 11 years
-I have been playing 6 months
-guitarist has been playing a little longer than I have by two or three weeks
-no singer, but I am tempted to sing myself (see below)

Now one of my concerns, unless this is simply ignorance, is that I view trios as being the type of band that really only work if the band is composed of experienced players capable of filling that much open space on their own. I don't know if a trio of mostly beginners can successfully do this. I cannot yet do anything terribly complex and I always have this stereotype in my mind of my guitarist as focusing heavily on power chords (he does do more than that...that's just a stereotype I have) while also focusing a lot on learning other band's songs rather than composing original pieces/parts like I tend to do (I only know a few songs by other bands, but have created a large variety of original basslines)

Secondly, I am the only one capable of singing in the group but I have concerns here also:

-all my experience singing has been in choir. I did four years of it as a baritone and I'm decent. But I only feel confident singing when amongst other people as part of a choir...I'd feel uneasy doing it myself. How could I fix this?
-my idea for the band would be inspired by Om...chanted vocals with slow, drone-y music to back them up. Do you think the choral experience would work here?

Thirdly, I suspect right away that there could be differences in musical tastes that could create issues. Here's the breakdown from what I can tell:

-my influences: Om, rai/Middle Eastern rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Steely Dan/Manuel Valera/any type of "club" jazz, heavy use of repetitive drones especially with Eastern influences (think Indian tambora and sitar music), Gary Numan/Kraftwerk/New Wave is also something I really like, etc.
-them: Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Trail of Dead, Future of the Left, Mars Volta, various punk and post punk bands
-the drummer also likes some of the bands I like (Steely Dan, etc.), etc.
-we all have some overlaps here and there (White Stripes, TV on the Radio, etc.)

I think that these differences could cause problems, but nonetheless I still foresee ourselves doing a punk/post punk/garage/lo fi act in some capacity...despite my influences. That's something I think we universally agree upon.

I also worry about some of the philosophies that I see bubbling-up. My guitarist often mentions how he is surprised that many popular songs heavily use power chords and how easy they actually are to play...and this comment rubs me the wrong way for some reason, but I'm not sure why. It may be, but I'm of the mind that power chords alone don't cut it. When we talk about what musical styles we want to do the general philosophy is "we don't need a plan, we'll do whatever we come-up with and work with that" and "when you try to purposely achieve a certain sound you typically don't". I understand the sentiments behind them and I can understand the logic of point #1. Nonetheless we're beginners to playing in a rock band and I feel it's best to ask the pro's for advice!

The final issue is school. We all graduate college in May with our bachelor's degrees and I am serious about eventually going for a Master's and PhD so I can teach in a humanities/philosophy field. I foresee myself working at first to pay loans, but I do intend to go back to school. I foresee this being a problem also, but especially since I am considering universities outside my geographical area, but also because teaching might require me to move just to find an available job And with this in mind I sometimes question if I really want to be in a band with these particular guys at this particular moment given that I may not be around for much longer (in the good, "I'm-still-alive-but-moved-away" sense ).

These guys are good friends of mine who I've known all four years of college and we are really close. They are all reasonable, intelligent, and rational individuals who are good to work with. But nonetheless I still wonder if they are the best guys to gig with, especially since I strongly see myself as being attracted to different musical styles than they are.

Sorry for the long post...I hope everyone can help.

Pax!

[N.F.A.]

Please check your PM.. My question to you is off topic here.

[Yakob]

Why don't you combine the genres?

Listen to shoegaze bands like My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen 3, Ride, Velvet Underground, etc.

Those bands seem to fit everyone in the group's musical taste.


The thing is, you and the guitarist will need a big pedal board.

[A-Step-Towards]

It seems you would be like blink 182 a better drummer and less experienced bassist and guitarist which adds a unique feel. Listen to some blink the drums are not over playing but pretty cool with the simple bass and guitar riffs, i think if you could do something like that it would be sweet, although the drummer is the key he may not want to play with less experieneced people after awhile

[ahbassman]

As far as singing, if you even think about your own singing you are going to be self conscious. Assuming you have a decent voice and your only having a bit of stage fright, the best thing to do is to just go belt it out. just singing will help you get over your lack of confidence.

[LotusCarsLtd52]

Originally Posted by ahbassman

As far as singing, if you even think about your own singing you are going to be self conscious. Assuming you have a decent voice and your only having a bit of stage fright, the best thing to do is to just go belt it out. just singing will help you get over your lack of confidence.

Any practical solutions for dealing with this? I was asked to join a choir next semester so that may help. Other thoughts?

I do have stage fright and I want to be able to get it under control.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

..... we're beginners to playing in a rock band....

How about just getting together to jam, learn a few tunes and see how it goes. Don't worry so much about being a "band". Maybe have a meeting and discuss everything.

Here are a few links to read up on that may help you out:
If I only knew then...
Best musical advice
Every bassist should know
Save your hearing

Also, you may want to check out my "Being in a Band" link below for more great TB info.

Good luck.

[Sonicfrog]

How about just getting together to jam, learn a few tunes and see how it goes. Don't worry so much about being a "band". Maybe have a meeting and discuss everything.

+ 1. Six-ish years ago, I ended up joining a start-up band, with musicians younger and much less experienced than I. After a few rehearsals, after evaluating the pros and cons of joining the group, I took the plunge. Yes, the other guys had some difficulties here and there, but I looked at the potential. For the next three years, I had the great pleasure of watching all the guys grow to become fine performers and musicians, and "Chris Plays Guitar" was one of the funnest bands I've ever played in.

[Stumbo]

Since you're new to playing in a band, I suggest you practice your bass/vocals with backing tracks and video/record yourself. Once you have that down, rehearse with the group and see how it goes. Video/record your rehearsal and once you have that down, maybe invite some friends/family to hear you rehearse and see how it goes. Once you're comfortable with all of that, maybe your confidence level will be up and you can book a small gig for your band.

Good luck.

Here are a few links to check out on the topic.

TB's Bass Player's Guide to Singing

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

My two friends and I have decided that we want to start a band. Now maybe it's just me being skeptical/pessimistic but I think we need to be careful about doing so because I have some concerns.

Here's the specs:

-we want to play as a trio
-drummer has been playing for 11 years
-I have been playing 6 months
-guitarist has been playing a little longer than I have by two or three weeks
-no singer, but I am tempted to sing myself (see below)

Now one of my concerns, unless this is simply ignorance, is that I view trios as being the type of band that really only work if the band is composed of experienced players capable of filling that much open space on their own. I don't know if a trio of mostly beginners can successfully do this. I cannot yet do anything terribly complex and I always have this stereotype in my mind of my guitarist as focusing heavily on power chords (he does do more than that...that's just a stereotype I have) while also focusing a lot on learning other band's songs rather than composing original pieces/parts like I tend to do (I only know a few songs by other bands, but have created a large variety of original basslines)

Look at Muse. Not overtly complex, and yet they're rather popular. Blink 182 was also a 3-man band.

Secondly, I am the only one capable of singing in the group but I have concerns here also:

-all my experience singing has been in choir. I did four years of it as a baritone and I'm decent. But I only feel confident singing when amongst other people as part of a choir...I'd feel uneasy doing it myself. How could I fix this?
-my idea for the band would be inspired by Om...chanted vocals with slow, drone-y music to back them up. Do you think the choral experience would work here?

You will get comfortable singing in due time. All you can do is push fear and embarrassment aside and just try. Take constructive criticism, don't take it personally, and really work at it. I do a lot of singing in my band, and I find it much easier to sing solo than to sing some weird backup harmonies my singer asks me to sing. Singing and playing will take time too. Just keep at both and you'll get there. And every new song is like re-learning to sing/play simultaneously.

Thirdly, I suspect right away that there could be differences in musical tastes that could create issues. Here's the breakdown from what I can tell:

-my influences: Om, rai/Middle Eastern rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Steely Dan/Manuel Valera/any type of "club" jazz, heavy use of repetitive drones especially with Eastern influences (think Indian tambora and sitar music), Gary Numan/Kraftwerk/New Wave is also something I really like, etc.
-them: Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Trail of Dead, Future of the Left, Mars Volta, various punk and post punk bands
-the drummer also likes some of the bands I like (Steely Dan, etc.), etc.
-we all have some overlaps here and there (White Stripes, TV on the Radio, etc.)

I think that these differences could cause problems, but nonetheless I still foresee ourselves doing a punk/post punk/garage/lo fi act in some capacity...despite my influences. That's something I think we universally agree upon.

I'm a metal bassist with jazz roots and I listen to underground rap and progressive metal. One of my guitarists is a blues guitarist through and through. The drummer is a death metal drummer, the other guitarist is all over the board, and the female singer is into hard rock. We are a hard rock band, and the influences come together very nicely. You'd be surprised what interesting things can come out of it as long as you're willing to compromise and work together.

I also worry about some of the philosophies that I see bubbling-up. My guitarist often mentions how he is surprised that many popular songs heavily use power chords and how easy they actually are to play...

Both of these statements are true.

...and this comment rubs me the wrong way for some reason, but I'm not sure why. It may be, but I'm of the mind that power chords alone don't cut it.

It all depends on your style. Don't let it rub you the wrong way. Distort some maj7 chords on the guitar and you might find you don't like the way they sound. Power chords are so common because they don't expressly have a major/minor tonality and they sound thick without sounding obtrusive. They're also extremely open-ended to allow the other instruments work with harmonies.

The final issue is school. We all graduate college in May with our bachelor's degrees and I am serious about eventually going for a Master's and PhD so I can teach in a humanities/philosophy field. I foresee myself working at first to pay loans, but I do intend to go back to school. I foresee this being a problem also, but especially since I am considering universities outside my geographical area, but also because teaching might require me to move just to find an available job And with this in mind I sometimes question if I really want to be in a band with these particular guys at this particular moment given that I may not be around for much longer (in the good, "I'm-still-alive-but-moved-away" sense ).

It's a beginning rock band. Use it for experience in playing with other people, singing, and bettering yourself for future band situations. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it probably isn't going anywhere serious. Not saying it can't, but you have about the same (if not worse) odds than marrying your high school sweetheart without divorce.

These guys are good friends of mine who I've known all four years of college and we are really close. They are all reasonable, intelligent, and rational individuals who are good to work with. But nonetheless I still wonder if they are the best guys to gig with, especially since I strongly see myself as being attracted to different musical styles than they are.

Sorry for the long post...I hope everyone can help.

Pax!

They'll be fine to play and gig with. You WANT people like that. Anybody here could tell you horror stories about ex band mates and auditions and other bands etc... Just have fun and learn to compromise. Two of our songs, I strongly disagreed with certain parts of the music, but ended up giving. Those two songs are now our two most popular songs.

Good luck.

[Kid-A]

If you're not sure you going to be around for the long haul, I recommend that you get together and practice, practice, practice... write songs together, jam together, and get comfortable with you instrument and your voice.

If you go back to school and can no longer commit to these band mates, you are richer for the experience, and you'll be better the next time you decide to join a group...

If you are around long enough, get comfortable with your songs and play in front of a few friends. Throw your own party, if need be... it's a great way to get used to a stage in front of a forgiving crowd... then branch out to small bar and clubs, and go from there.

Don't worry about the contrasting styles - it's a good thing to have different influences. It will give you a unique approach and sound... I wouldn't necessarily "decide" on a style. Let the style decide itself when you jam.

Lastly, have fun, and play what you can play well. Accept your limitations as a musician and accept your band mates limitations - then work together to improve on them.

[randyripoff]

Originally Posted by LotusCarsLtd52

Any practical solutions for dealing with this? I was asked to join a choir next semester so that may help. Other thoughts?

I do have stage fright and I want to be able to get it under control.

Try karaoke. Being on stage by yourself will be a good experience, and if you stink--well, no harm no foul since no one expects anyone to be good.

[Yenko]

Originally Posted by randyripoff

Try karaoke. Being on stage by yourself will be a good experience, and if you stink--well, no harm no foul since no one expects anyone to be good.

+1

Karaoke can be a good ego boost, since you'll get lots of compliments from all the drunk people who sing worse than you.

[becker4567]

I think Stumbo (post #7) said it best. Don't worry about being a "band", try being just 3 guys that love music and get together to jam. The "band" part will come in time.

[K2000]

Maybe more than skill/experience, I'm starting to think the main qualities to look for in a band-mate might be a good work ethic or dedication, and being easy to get along with.

[LarryO]

just my opinion but if your goal is to have a band that works and grows together for some time the most important thing is that you all get along and enjoy each others company. Everything else will come in time

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by Yakob

The thing is, you and the guitarist will need a big pedal board.

Lies. Bassists don't need pedals. Some bassists like pedals. If you can't fill space without pedals, it isn't going to sound good with pedals, either.

People who are thinking about joining trios always talk about "filling the sonic space". Well, forget that, and start thinking about how to make some artful space.

[PinkFloydDan]

All I can say is I have played in nothing but trios and although we're not making money by any means in the industry, we have fun. I am not an incredible player in my opinion. No theory and all self taught.

Filling the space can be done in a lot of ways in a trio. Also, I do not sing and play although I wish I could find the motivation to get it down. I have a real hard time with it. If anything, that probably affects the music the most--lack of harmony. So, we bought a JamMan and do harmonies on that!

[PinkFloydDan]

I've never used a pedal. Always trios. too

Originally Posted by M0ses

Lies. Bassists don't need pedals. Some bassists like pedals. If you can't fill space without pedals, it isn't going to sound good with pedals, either.

People who are thinking about joining trios always talk about "filling the sonic space". Well, forget that, and start thinking about how to make some artful space.

[Kid-A]

Originally Posted by PinkFloydDan

I've never used a pedal. Always trios. too

+1